Okay, I've had this pounded into my head forever but is it really true? Factors I put forth which may perpetuate this idea:
1) Most goldfish are sold as rapidly growing babies with high metabolisms.
2) On the whole, they are fed nasty filler foods that would make a tank trashy no matter what ate them.
3) They are often kept my newbies who overfeed.
4) They are often put into very small tanks and crowded nearly to death in holding tanks.
I mean, If I put a 2" goldfish in one 30 gallon tank and a 2"...I don't know, token vegetarian/omnivorous SA cichlid in another and fed them the same food (though the goldfish would have to be at a cooler temp) shouldn't I see the same amount of waste made?
To satisfy the metabolic needs of a goldfish, is one truly doomed to have to deal with more waste than a tropical fish of the same basic growth rate, adult size and dietary needs? Do they really magically produce extra ammonia above and beyond what they would be perceived to be capable of producing?
1) Most goldfish are sold as rapidly growing babies with high metabolisms.
2) On the whole, they are fed nasty filler foods that would make a tank trashy no matter what ate them.
3) They are often kept my newbies who overfeed.
4) They are often put into very small tanks and crowded nearly to death in holding tanks.
I mean, If I put a 2" goldfish in one 30 gallon tank and a 2"...I don't know, token vegetarian/omnivorous SA cichlid in another and fed them the same food (though the goldfish would have to be at a cooler temp) shouldn't I see the same amount of waste made?
To satisfy the metabolic needs of a goldfish, is one truly doomed to have to deal with more waste than a tropical fish of the same basic growth rate, adult size and dietary needs? Do they really magically produce extra ammonia above and beyond what they would be perceived to be capable of producing?
